Apparatus and methods for occluding an anatomical structure

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are disclosed for occluding an anatomical structure including an occlusion apparatus having first and second beams and at least one connector for connecting the respective ends of the beams together. The occlusion apparatus may be adapted for use in a deployment device having a pair of jaws and optionally having a respective pair of shuttle bodies for releasably connecting an occlusion apparatus to the jaws while in an open position and for releasing the occlusion device from the jaws while in a closed position. A system for occluding an anatomical structure is also disclosed that includes an occlusion apparatus and a deployment device for holding the occlusion apparatus in an open position for locating the occlusion device adjacent the anatomical structure to be occluded and then moving the occlusion apparatus to a closed position and locking the occlusion apparatus in the closed position.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for occluding an anatomical structure comprising:
 an occlusion apparatus comprising:
 a first beam having first and second ends, 
 a second beam having first and second ends, 
 a first elastic band for coupling the first end of the first beam with the first end of the second beam, the first elastic band biasing the first end of the first beam toward the first end of the second beam, 
 a second elastic band coupled to the second end of the second beam, the second elastic band configured to bias the second end of the first beam toward the second end of the second beam when the second elastic band is coupled to the second ends of the first and second beams, and 
 a connector repositionable to extend into an orifice in the second end of the first beam to couple the second elastic band to the second end of the first beam; and, 
 
 a deployment device coupled to the occlusion apparatus in order to reposition the occlusion apparatus between an open position and a closed position, the deployment device further comprising a first jaw operatively coupled to the first beam and a second jaw operatively coupled to the second beam, the first jaw and the second jaw being repositionable with respect to one another. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a cable coupled to the jaws and adapted to control repositioning of the first and second jaws. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claims 1 , wherein the deployment device further comprises:
 a shaft having a distal end, wherein:
 the first and second jaws are coupled to the distal end of the shaft and biased toward an open position, 
 first and second shuttle bodies are slidably connected to the respective first and second jaws, 
 the first and second shuttle bodies releasably connecting the occlusion apparatus to the respective first and second jaws when the first and second shuttle bodies are in a first position relative to the first and second jaws, and 
 the first and second jaws are movable to a closed position after which the shuttle bodies are movable to a second position relative to the first and second jaws wherein the occlusion apparatus is released from the deployment device. 
 
 
     
     
       4. A system for occluding an anatomical structure comprising:
 an occlusion apparatus comprising:
 a first axial beam, 
 a second axial beam, 
 a first elastic band coupling a first end of the first axial beam with a first end of the second axial beam resulting in an open-ended occlusion device where second ends of the first and second axial beams are not tethered together, the first elastic band biasing the first end of the first axial beam toward the first end of the second axial beam, 
 a deployment device removably coupled to the open-ended occlusion device and configured to control repositioning of the open-ended occlusion device between an open position and a closed position, the closed position having the first axial beam and the second axial beam generally parallel to one another and generally equidistantly spaced apart along an axial direction. 
 
 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 4 , wherein the deployment device includes:
 a first jaw extending axially along the first axial beam and removably coupled to the first axial beam; and, 
 a second jaw extending axially along the second axial beam and removably coupled to the second axial beam. 
 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 5 , wherein the deployment device further includes a cable operatively coupled to the first and second jaws, the cable repositionable to facilitate repositioning of the first and second axial beams between the closed position and the open position. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 5 , wherein the deployment device further comprises:
 a shaft having a distal end operatively coupled to the first and second jaws, the first and second jaws pivotally repositionable with respect to one another; and, 
 a release configured to selectively disengage at least one of the first and second jaws from at least one of the first and second axial beams. 
 
     
     
       8. A system for occluding an anatomical structure comprising:
 an occlusion apparatus comprising:
 a first axial beam coupled to a second axial beam, the first and second axial beams coupled to one another at respective ends via a first elastic connection, where the first elastic connection is operative to bias the first axial beam toward the second axial beam; 
 a deployment device removably coupled to the first and second axial beams and configured to control repositioning of the first and second axial beams between an open position and a closed position, the deployment device including jaws extending along a dominant longitudinal dimension of the first and second axial beams to overlap and underlap the first and second axial beams so the first and second axial beam interpose the jaws. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the deployment device includes:
 a first jaw extending axially along the first axial beam and removably coupled to the first axial beam; and, 
 a second jaw extending axially along the second axial beam and removably coupled to the second axial beam. 
 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the deployment device further includes a cable operatively coupled to the first and second jaws, the cable repositionable to facilitate repositioning of the first and second axial beams between the closed position and the open position. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claims 9 , wherein the deployment device further comprises:
 a shaft having a distal end operatively coupled to the first and second jaws, the first and second jaws pivotally repositionable with respect to one another; and, 
 a release configured to selectively disengage at least one of the first and second jaws from at least one of the first and second axial beams. 
 
     
     
       12. A system for occluding an anatomical structure comprising:
 an occlusion apparatus comprising:
 a first beam having first and second ends, 
 a second beam having first and second ends, 
 a first resilient connector for coupling the first end of the first beam with the first end of the second beam, the first resilient connector biasing the first end of the first beam toward the first end of the second beam including when the first and second beams are adjacent one another, 
 a second resilient connector coupled to the second end of the second beam, the second resilient connector configured to bias the second end of the first beam toward the second end of the second beam when the second resilient connector is coupled to the second ends of the first and second beams, including when the first and second beams are adjacent one another, and 
 
 a deployment device coupled to the occlusion apparatus in order to reposition the occlusion apparatus between an open position and a closed position, the deployment device operatively coupled to the second resilient connector to reposition the second resilient connector independent from the first and second beams. 
 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second beams are not coupled to structure configured to pierce tissue.